Southwest Quadrant Idea To Be Weighed

MANCHESTER — The board of directors authorized town staff Tuesday to examine the feasibility of a developer's proposal to bring public water and sewer to the southwest quadrant of town.

The board's action on Tuesday came months after Massachusetts-based developer Ralph Campanelli and the Lombardo Trust, the property's owners, first discussed with town residents their idea to develop the 100 acres at 871 Hillstown Road near Bush Hill Road and build 73 houses, leaving 48 acres for open space.

Carl Zinsser, who represents the developer, has said the property would be served by sewers, which the developer hopes to get from the Metropolitan District Commission. But if the town prefers, the developer would pay to bring a water line down Hillstown Road, Zinsser said. Homeowners in that part of town use private wells and septic systems.

Zinsser said the developer would submit a proposal to the planning department after the board of directors voted on extending public utilities to the southwest corner. The board also acts as the board of utility control.

Director Dave Sheridan said the proposal could result in ``approximately $1 million of water main and add 48 acres of open space. Those two benefits alone merit us doing our due diligence.''

Sheridan said he would like town staff to give the board more information on how a public sewer system might connect to the MDC so that it supplied only the new neighborhood.

The idea of having public utilities in that part of town has been a sensitive issue because the southwest quadrant is considered to be the last rural section of town.

Some residents and directors have expressed concern that extending public services to the area would open it to subdivisions.

``I think we all believe that we want to preserve the rural content of southwest Manchester as much as possible, but with respect to the rights of private property owners,'' said Mayor Josh Howroyd.